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Greek Coast Guard Rescues 37 Immigrants

Greek_coastguardOfficers of the Greek coast guard claimed that they have rescued 37 immigrants from drowning in the eastern Aegean Sea.
According to the Greek authorities, a GreekĀ coast guard patrol found the half-sunken boat offshore the island of Lesbos early on Thursday. The immigrants whose nationalities have not yet identified, were taken to Lesbos where they were arrested for lacking official documents.
Greece is considered the main entrance to the European Union. As of late, the number of immigrants — especially from Middle East — attempting to enter Greece has increased due to the war in Syria and tensions in the surrounding areas. Thousands of immigrants have lost their lives trying to cross Aegean with rickety boats.
On January 12, immigrants including children died, when their boat carrying 28 people sank near the Greek island of Farmakonisi, southern Aegean. The survivors accused the Greek coast guard officers of trying to tow the boat back to Turkey, which led to its capsizing. However, the Greek coast guard denied accusations.
That was not the first time that Greek officers have been accused of mistreating immigrants. The European media has presented such incidents many times, that have a negative effect on public opinion. In the past, the Council of EuropeĀ complained about Greeceā€™s migration policy and had asked Greek authorities toĀ end the collective expulsions of immigrants.
Nils Muiznieks, Europeā€™s Council Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that “allegations of ill-treatment of migrants by members of the coast guard and of border police, raise serious human rights concerns.”

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